LUVTruck.com

what does it take to set up for a solid front axle? i would like to put some yota axles on my luv, but would like more info first. wich axles are the easyest to put on? will anty bolt rite up. will i need to shorten them?what about drivline spline's? what about mounting locations in the front? well let me know what youv done to yours.

in doing an axle swap you pretty much have to do everything your self, you have two popular options of going with the 'Yota axle, or sticking a D44 out of a mid to late '70's Jeep Wagoneer. there is a ton of info on how to do axle swaps over in the Isuzu section of http://www.4x4wire.com
Matt over at http://www.independent4x.com also sells a axle swap kit for Isuzu products that includes everything but the axle, drive shaft and steering stuff. all of the mounting hardware is there all you have to do is torch off the ifs and weld on the mounting brackets. You could just a easily make your own mounting stuff and save $700.

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'80 Luv 4x4, 3" BL, 1.5" SL, 32/36, 2.25" exhaust...and fuzzy dice.
'95 Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-Speed.

sounds like a ton of work to gain a suspention lift.

well not just for a suspension lift but for a stronger front axle, more gear options, more articulation, etc...

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'80 Luv 4x4, 3" BL, 1.5" SL, 32/36, 2.25" exhaust...and fuzzy dice.
'95 Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-Speed.

Solid axles rock! If I had the tools I'd do it in a sec! Here's a link to a ton of Toyota stuff (I know ) there's a ton of SAS stuff there. It's not the same rig, but the concept's the same. It's worth a look, I'm sure some of the parts (Front crossmember, steering, ect...) from some of the Toy aftermarket stores could be made to work on a LUV, if you were swapping in a Toy front axle.

http://www.toyotalinks.com

Good luck, and take lots of pic's.

personally for the rear i would go whith an Isuzu12bolt from a trooper. That gives you rear discs and is stronger than even the 8.5" GM 10bolts under full sized trucks. Then i would get a Toyota 8" for the front, beaing in mind that the rear perty much only comes whith 4.56 gears.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

what about driveline's? they will have to be modified huh?

you'll have to have a new front drive shaft made for sure, if you go with a Isuzu 12 bolt for the rear you may want to have one made because the yokes are different

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'80 Luv 4x4, 3" BL, 1.5" SL, 32/36, 2.25" exhaust...and fuzzy dice.
'95 Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-Speed.

you can get a conversion joint. Run the stock LUV rear shaft and just get the drive flange for the 12 bolt ZU. Then install a conversion U-joint between the two and boom good to go. Bomb proof bolt in axle...

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

where would you get a conversion u-joint?

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'80 Luv 4x4, 3" BL, 1.5" SL, 32/36, 2.25" exhaust...and fuzzy dice.
'95 Toyota 4Runner Limited 5-Speed.

i am doint this right now with a yota axle. im gonna go with leaf springs so i have to extend the frame about 8 in. make sring mounts with some tubing. your gonna have to either buy cross over steering for about 400 from allprooffroad.com or get some 5/8 hiem joints and thick wall tubine to thread the heims into.front drive shaft is a problem to u might as well get a yota front drive shaft and a new ujoint to go from the yota drive shaft to the luv yoke at the transfer case. i would also recomend p.s. from a 80s trooper to help steer. it should bolt right on the frame and 1.8. its alot of work but it is definatle worth it. if u want to go with a 4 link or something to that effect steering and drive shaft will be the same but you will have to figure out the triangulation for th links and make them long enough and make mounting brackets for coilovers(recommened) leafs will be alot easier to set up than a linked suspension but not as good of articulation. oh ya u will also have to find or make a panhard bar for the linked suspension. lot of work but worth it in the end. matt

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1980 4x4 header stock motor lifted 4 1/2 in. in the rear and 3 1/2 in the front

i must disagree whith the usage of Heims in steering linkage. First off they are designed for double shear aplicatins (meaning they need to be suported in a C shape). Second theres now way to keep greese in em and dirt and water out. Just a bad idea to me when theres joints that are designed for it already availiable.
Conversion joints can be gotten at any parts stor just get all the joint measurements (cap diameter and height, and also trunion length)

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...